Coaching 101 - Ch 8

Summary

This last chapter is an encouragement to those who are considering becoming coaches. To become a good coach just dive in and get started and find out where you need to grow. You won't be perfect from the outset, and you will make mistakes, but that's part of learning. Practice in daily conversations by drawing people out when they express a concern they have, it doesn't have to be a formal coaching relationship each time, and the more practice you have, the better you will become at coaching and empowering people to live the lives God has for them.

Instead of giving advice and sympathy, ask questions about the person's desires and what options they have, and use open-ended questions instead of yes or no ones. (1, p.112)

God uses the weak to make himself strong, don't worry about not having what it takes. (1 Corinthians 1:27, 2 Corinthians 3:4-6) "He calls us to dilligently prepare. He calls us to open ourselves to the unexpected, stepping out in faith when we feel like we're in over our heads." (1, p. 116)

When God looks at us, he not only sees who we are now and who we were, but who we will become. Similarly, coaching will enable us to "see the unique imprint of God's image on the lives of others. As coaches, we are called to see not just who people are now, but who they could become"(1, p. 116) and to come alongside them and encourage them for the glory of God.

Personal reflection

My natural tendency is draw people out and find out more about who they are, and what they are passionate about. Unfortunately my other natural tendency is to give advice when advice is not really wanted. I have to rest in knowing that its enough to help people discover what God wants them to do, and that deep down they have an idea of what this is and what they need to do to accomplish their goals.

Scripture

His sufficiency in us
1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

2 Corinthians 3:4-6 4(I) Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5(J) Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but(K) our sufficiency is from God, 6who has made us competent[c] to be(L) ministers of(M) a new covenant, not of(N) the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but(O) the Spirit gives life.

(1) Logan, Robert E. & Carlton, Sherilyn. 2003. Coaching 101: Discover the Power of Coaching. ChurchSmart Resources